Preview: Bristol City (H)

27 April 2018

NFFC

The curtain comes down on the 2017-18 home season at The City Ground tomorrow as Nottingham Forest welcome Bristol City for the final home game of the current campaign.

The Reds are in good at home as the season draws to a close, with wins over Ipswich Town and Barnsley in their last two outings, and they will be keen to finish on a high in front of the home fans before the long summer break.

The nature of the dominant performance and the comfortable victory over The Tykes on Tuesday night will have given the fans plenty of excitement about what the future may hold for Aitor Karanka's side who will be looking to bring to an end Bristol City's play-off ambitions.

The Robins sit five points off the top six with two games left to play and arrive at The City Ground needing a win and for results elsewhere to go their way.

Lee Johnson's side will be disappointed to be in this position considering their fine start to the campaign, but they will be determined to keep up their end of the bargain to give themselves something to play for next weekend.

Team news

Forest will be without Tobias Figueiredo again as the defender continues to be sidelined with a hamstring injury, which Karanka admits may also keep him out of the game against Bolton next week.

Juan Rafael Fuentes has had an operation on his leg after suffering a broken tibia in Tuesday night's game against Barnsley and is set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines.

David Vaughan also remains out for The Reds but Daryl Murphy could be in line to feature having recovered from injury, while Costel Pantilimon is doubtful with Stefanos Kapino in line to deputise again.

From the opposition

Bristol City are determined to take all six points from their remaining two games in their bid for a positive end to the season, according to assistant head coach Jamie McAllister.

As it stands, Derby County have the advantage of occupying sixth place with a five-point buffer, along with a superior goal difference, but The Robins will aim to pick up maximum points from their final two outings to give themselves a chance.

Speaking to City's official website ahead of Saturday's trip to The City Ground, McAllister said: "The percentage [chance of making the play-offs] is not as good as it was but there is a slim chance and as long as there is that, then we will give it a go.

"Until it's mathematically over we have to keep up the fight. We have six points to play for and we want to finish as high up the table as possible.

"We looked at the fixtures on Saturday and it's crazy, unbelievable [how congested it is for the final play-off spots]. We all play each other and there's one spot which four of five teams are fighting for. It's exciting!"

One to watch - Bobby Reid

It has been a season to remember for Bobby Reid as the forward has notched up over 20 goals in all competitions. His performances for City saw him recognised in the EFL and PFA Teams of the Season and he will be hoping that he can maitain his scoring form to keep Bristol City's play-off hopes alive.

The diminutive academy graduate has formed a good partnership with fellow front man Famara Diedhiou so The Reds defence will need to be on top of their game to keep out one of the division's leading marksmen.

Last visit

Tickets

Don't miss out on the last chance to watch Forest at The City Ground before the long summer break.

Tickets are still available for the game, with fantastic offers such as Kids for a Quid, student tickets at £5 and 18-23-year-olds able to get in for just £10 so get your fix of Forest before the end of the season!

Forest 0-0 Bristol City

Nottingham Forest and Bristol City played out a goalless draw at The City Ground as The Reds ended their home campaign with a point.

In a game where Forest looked the more likely to break the deadlock, Lee Tomlin saw a second-half penalty saved as ultimately the defences came out on top.

The biggest cheer of the game was saved for the final five minutes, however, as Chris Cohen came on as a late substitute.

Aitor Karanka handed starts to Andreas Bouchalakis and Daryl Murphy as he made six changes to the side which defeated Barnsley on Tuesday night.

The visitors dominated possession early on in the game but it was Forest who had the game's first attempt on goal on four minutes. Lee Tomlin drove forward down the left-hand side and cut onto his right foot but his low effort was well saved by City keeper Frank Fielding.

There was a lengthy break in play on seven minutes though as Joe Lolley's thunderous shot was blocked by Nathan Baker, who was being attended to by medical staff from both teams before being stretchered from the pitch.

Lolley was at the heart of everything going forward for The Reds and he forced substitute Callum O'Dowda to clear as far as Tomlin on 17, but the former Bristol City man could only fire his half-volley wide of the target before Lolley and Bouchalakis both had efforts drift over the bar as Forest looked the more likely side to find a breakthrough.

On 27 minutes though, a dangerous low cross by Famara Diedhiou went across the face of goal and an alert Ben Osborn was on hand to turn the ball behind for a corner with former Red Jamie Paterson lurking at the back post, and a minute later Marlon Pack fired wide from the edge of the box after Forest failed to clear a long throw.

The best chance of the opening half hour landed on the head of Bouchalakis though, as he met Lolley's lovely delivery from the right but could only glance an effort over the bar from six yards out.

Lolley tested Fielding again on 32, Diedhiou curled a shot just wide on 36 before Tomlin had another effort parried minutes later as the chances kept coming.

On the stroke of half-time, Adlene Guedioura should have done better as he met Osborn's cross in the middle but he skewed an effort wide then Lolley came agonisingly close to finding the corner of the net with a curling effort in first-half injury time but it deflected just past the far post.

After Forest's dominance in the first half, the second half began fairly evenly without many clear-cut openings. However, on 64 minutes The Reds had the perfect chance to take the lead from the penalty spot.

A super pass by Bouchalakis found Osborn in the area, who beat sub Eros Pisano to the ball and was hauled down by keeper Fielding, but the stopper made amends as he guessed the right way to keep out Tomlin's spot kick.

That sparked the action into life as City thought they had taken the lead a minute later, with Diedhiou pouncing on a mistake by Michael Mancienne to round Stefanos Kapino and put the ball into the net, only to see the offside flag raised.

The rest of the second half proved to be lacking in goalscoring opportunities as the game seemed destined for a draw.

But the sight of Chris Cohen on the pitch again for The Reds brought The City Ground to their feet as they welcomed the long-serving midfielder back into the fray.